A man owned 80
acres of land, some of the best in the county where he lived. The wheat planted
was green and looked great, and the price also looked great at $8.50 a bushel.
But then, one of his neighbor’s called him on his cell, “Have you seen your
wheat? The geese are about to eat all your wheat!” Taking a short trip in his
pick-up, he looked and sure enough it appeared 30 of the 50 planted acres had
been grazed to the bare ground. Geese were marching across the field ten abreast
and the line seemed to be a quarter of a mile long. When he drove his pick-up
toward them, they took flight, and the sky blackened. It looked like 10,000
geese (preacher’s count) had all risen at once. He had thought to himself, this
year looks like I will make a good profit from my crop. The wheat looks good,
my opportunity for marketing at a fair price seems excellent, and I may even be
able to make enough to store some until next year. “Wow!” he thought, “relax
and enjoy the fruit of your labor.” Then, God sent geese. “Fool!” echoed in his
mind (Luke 12:20). God reminded the man of what is mine and what is His. “I
give and I take away” (Job 1:21). One never really owns anything. God is in
control of everything and generously allows us to use his temporal blessings.
If God takes care of the birds of the air, why should one worry about
themselves? After all, aren’t we humans greater than animals? “…blessed be the
name of the Lord.”
[Revelation
20:12-15] In a sermon titled “When the Books are Opened,” by V.P. Black, he
observed the following: “My friends, I say to you without the least fear of
exaggeration that many will never realize they are lost until those books are
opened. Many will learn when the books are opened that the most important thing
in life was not their job; it was not their home; it was not their loved ones;
it was not their friends; it was not their money; it was not their property.
The most important thing is your soul, and if you don’t learn it in this world,
you will learn it when the books are opened.” (“Truths That Lead to Eternal
Life” p.164) Obviously, we need to learn the value of the soul before the books
are opened on the Judgment Day. On that day, it will be too late to do anything
to save our soul. However, we currently hold in our hands the Book that has the
power to save our soul. James wrote, “Therefore, lay aside all filthiness and
overflow of wickedness, and receive with meekness the implanted word, which is
able to save your souls” (James 1:21). Again, I repeat, before the books are
opened on that final day, we need to open the Book and learn the value of the
soul. The value of our soul is priceless, and Jesus has paid that price.
Concerning the
soul, Jesus declared, “For what profit is it to a man if he gains the whole
world, and loses his own soul? Or what will a man give in exchange for his
soul?” (Matthew 16:26). Clearly, Jesus knew the value of the soul. However, in
context, the rich young ruler did not (Matthew 19:16-22). I know this because
he chose earthly possessions over eternal salvation. Obviously, the majority of
people in the world today are making the same mistake as the rich young ruler
did. They are laboring for that which perishes rather than that which endures
forever (John 6:27). Furthermore, concerning the soul, Jesus declared, “And do
not fear those who kill the body but cannot kill the soul. But rather fear Him
who is able to destroy both soul and body in hell” (Matthew 10:28). Sadly, many
are more worried about losing their riches in an earthly fire than they are
about losing their souls in the eternal fire of hell. Clearly, they have missed
the value of the soul. It is my prayer that we will each examine ourselves and
make sure that we have put the proper emphasis upon the soul that will never
die. One day we will all discover and agree on its value of eternal life or
eternal suffering and shame. Today is the day of salvation (2 Corinthians 6:2).